State Aviation Journal – Page 481 – Your Best Source of State Aviation News

Lufthansa Celebrates 100 Years Since its First Flights in Berlin
It was a special date for Lufthansa and a special day for all the employees who have shaped the airline with the crane logo: Exactly 100 years ago on April 6, 1926 – Lufthansa (at that time: “Luft Hansa”) took to the skies on its first flights. On that day, two aircraft took off from […]
Lucid Bots Raises $20 Million to Accelerate the Buildout of America’s Leading Exterior Cleaning Platform
Lucid Bots has announced it has raised an oversubscribed $20 million Series B round co-led by Cubit Capital and Idea Fund Partners, with participation from Taylor Rhodes, WaterStone Impact Fund, and Front Porch Ventures, in addition to existing investors. The raise brings total funding to $34 million and will be used to scale the company’s […]
SAS Marks 80 Years with Anniversary Aircraft
SAS marks the start of its 80th year of operations with a specially painted Airbus A330-300, celebrating eight decades of connecting Scandinavia with the world. Throughout 2026, the airline will highlight its heritage and continued role in linking people, businesses and societies. The anniversary comes 80 years after SAS’s first intercontinental flight on September 17, […]
Textron Aviation Names Five 2026 Top Hawk Recipients as Program Enters Its Second Decade of Workforce Impact
Photo – Factory-new Cessna Skyhawks (Model 172) to take flight as Textron Aviation names five 2026 Top Hawk recipients—helping train the next generation of pilots Textron Aviation Inc., announced Brazos Valley Flight Services, Executive Air Taxi Corporation, Fairmont State University, Sterling Flight Training and Victors Aviation as its 2026 Top Hawk program recipients, continuing a […]

State News

The Lone Star Flight Museum to Host Houston Fleet Week Static Aircraft Display

The Lone Star Flight Museum is celebrating Fleet Week Houston by hosting the Fleet Week Navy Aircraft Display and offering free admission all weekend with generous support from ExxonMobil. The event will be held April 18 and 19, at Ellington Airport in Houston, Texas. For the first time in Fleet Week history, Lone Star Flight Museum will host unique Navy, Coast Guard and Marine aircraft. The inaugural Fleet Week Houston will celebrate 250 years of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps with ships, aircraft, and over 1,000 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen visiting the city for memorable experiences and events. Featured aircraft include the F/A-18 Hornet, the T-45 Goshawk, the T-6B Texan II, the T-38 Talon, the TH-73A Thrasher, the T-54 Marlin II, and the CH-46 Sea Knight. The full aircraft roster is subject to change. Visitors will also enjoy the museum’s collection of aircraft, interactive exhibits, flight simulators, gift shop and Minuti Coffee. Check out the full Fleet Week Houston schedule Here. Parking is free. No outside food or drinks will be allowed. Security and bag check will be required of all visitors. Only clear bags 12x6x12 inches in size or smaller will be allowed into the museum for the duration of the aircraft display. No exceptions.
Oregon Airports to Receive More Than $27 Million in Federal Investment

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Reps. Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter announced last week that more than 25 Oregon airports will receive a combined federal investment of more than $27 million to make their infrastructure safer and better. “Oregonians rely on federal investments like these to support small businesses, emergency responses, and safe travel in communities across our state,” Wyden said. “I’ll keep battling for continued federal support for all airports in Oregon to keep our state’s residents and products moving smoothly and securely from point A to point B.” “Our regional airports are vital hubs for Oregonians, supporting local businesses and providing essential lifelines during natural disasters,” Merkley said. “Investing in critical airport improvements such as terminals, runways, and more strengthens infrastructure across our state. I’ll keep fighting to secure critical federal funds for improving the efficiency and reliability of Oregon’s airports, benefitting the folks who rely on them for business, travel, and so much more.” “These investments across Oregon will help improve safety, modernize equipment and make these airports work better for everyone,” said Rep. Hoyle. “Reliability is essential for the economic growth of our coastal community. This funding is a win for the region.” “Ensuring our airports have the resources and funding they need is vital to the safety of everyone at the airport,” said Rep. Salinas. “This federal grant funding will help make them safer, more reliable, and better equipped to continue serving our local community for years to come.” “Federal investments like this are vital to keeping Oregon’s communities connected and our economy moving,” said Rep. Bynum. “This funding will expand travel access, boost local businesses, and strengthen our region’s ability to compete and grow. I will continue fighting to ensure our airports have the resources to thrive and better serve Oregonians.” “The Hood River airport is an important gateway for communities across the Columbia Gorge—supporting emergency response, local businesses, and regional connectivity. This is an important investment, and I am determined to do all I can to keep needed federal dollars coming to my district and supporting the success of our communities,” said Rep. Dexter. The awards from the federal Department of Transportation for the Oregon airports are as follows: $6.24 million combined to Mahlon Sweet Field in Eugene to rebuild 21,177 square feet of terminal Concourse A, including interiors and restroom rehabilitation, construction including HVAC and mechanical; expand terminal Concourse A by 9,893 square feet, including HVAC and mechanical systems, including interiors and restroom rehabilitation. $3.45 million to Roberts Field in Redmond to expand the terminal by 131,283 square feet $3.18 million combined to Mulino State Airport to reseal 3,340 linear feet of hangar taxilane pavement; reseal 9,645 square yards of tiedown apron pavement and joints; reseal 3,425 linear feet of runway pavement and joints, expand an existing non-exclusive use hangar for aircraft storage by 10,500 square feet $2.67 million to the Grants Pass Airport for new guidance signs., new lighting on taxiway edge lighting, extends paved runway by 13,294 feet, install runway end identifier lights system and precision approach path indicator system, extend taxiway by 870 feet in length $2 million to Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford to rebuild 8,000 square yards of apron pavement; rehabilitate 30,000 square yards of apron pavement; update the pavement management plan and pavement survey and study $947,435 combined to Brookings Airport to rebuild runway lighting, install a new airport rotating beacon, rebuild the precision approach path indicator system, rebuild the runway end identifier lights system, acquire and install new wind cone navigational aids to provide pilots, rebuild the runway end identifier lights system $850,000 to Albany Municipal Airport to reseal 3,004 feet of runway, rebuild runway end identifier lights system $800,254 combined to Joseph State Airport to acquire and install a new automated weather observing system, reseal 5,210 feet of runway pavement and joints; reseal 6,990 feet of taxiway pavement and joints $760,000 to Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend to build runway safety area $687,235 combined to Condon State Pauling Field to update the existing airport layout plan, reseal 1,030 feet of taxiway pavement; reseal 5,000 square yards of agriculture aircraft apron/pavement; reseal 830 feet of taxilane pavement $600,000 to Corvallis Municipal Airport to reseal 7,200 linear feet of taxiway pavement $534,000 to Ashland Municipal Airport to reseal 3,331 linear feet of taxilane pavement and joints; rehabilitate 131 linear feet of taxilane pavement; reseal 3,791 linear feet of runway pavement and joints $500,000 to the Oregon Department of Aviation to update the regional airport system plan, the pavement management plan and pavement study $490,224 combined to Chiloquin State Airport to reseal 4,190 square yards of apron pavement and joints, reseal 3,910 feet of runway pavement and joints $465,789 combined to Roseburg Regional Airport to rehabilitate 27,555 square yards of apron pavement; rehabilitate 5,003 feet of paved runway $439,810 to Lebanon State Airport to reseal 2,140 feet of taxiway pavement and joints; reseal 2,750 feet of runway pavement and joints $389,504 to Burns Municipal Airport to build a new 1,600-square-foot snow removal equipment building $360,000 to Astoria Regional Airport to extend taxiways by 1,350 feet in length to reduce delays $326,774 to Gold Beach Municipal Airport to reseal 3,200 feet of taxiway pavement; reseal 3,200 feet of runway pavement $300,000 to Ontario Municipal Airport to build a new helipad $300,000 to Baker City Municipal Airport to rebuild 500 feet of airport access road $300,000 to Crook County for the Prineville Airport to rehabilitate 5,404 linear feet of paved runway $285,000 to Crater Lake/Klamath Regional Airport in Klamath Falls to rehabilitate 9,888 square yards of apron pavement $220,000 to Ken Jernstedt Airfield in Hood River to reseal 175 feet of taxiway pavement, rehabilitate a tiedown apron and reseal 1,200 feet of apron taxilane $171,760 to Grant County Regional Airport in John Day to build a new fuel farm by adding a 15,000-gallon AvGas fuel tank and a 15,000-gallon Jet A fuel tank and self-service pumps and READ MORE

National News

CAN Appoints Aviation Pioneer Joan Sullivan Garrett to Board of Directors

Corporate Angel Network (CAN) has announced the appointment of Joan Sullivan Garrett to its Board of Directors. A pioneering entrepreneur and aviation medical innovator, Garrett is the Founder and Chairman of MedAire, a global leader in integrated medical, travel, and safety services for aviation and maritime industries. Since founding MedAire in 1985, she has been instrumental in developing real-time, ground-based medical support systems for in-flight emergencies—helping establish industry standards that continue to save lives worldwide. Joan Sullivan Garrett Garrett’s work has shaped how the aviation industry approaches passenger and crew health, with MedAire now supporting hundreds of airlines and thousands of aircraft globally. A widely recognized authority in aviation medicine and remote care, she has advised government agencies, testified before Congress, and contributed extensively to advancing health and safety protocols across the industry. “Joan is a true trailblazer whose career has been defined by innovation and a deep commitment to protecting and saving lives,” said Jean Rosanvallon, Chairman of the Corporate Angel Network Board of Directors. “Her unique perspective at the intersection of aviation and healthcare aligns seamlessly with CAN’s mission. We are excited to welcome her insight and leadership as we continue expanding access to life-saving treatment for cancer patients.” Garrett’s distinguished career includes service on numerous aviation and nonprofit boards, as well as numerous awards and honors, including the National Aeronautic Association Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, NBAA’s Meritorious Service to Aviation Award and inductions into the International Air and Space Hall of Fame, National Aviation Hall of Fame and Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. Her longstanding dedication to improving safety, care, and access within aviation brings a powerful dimension to CAN’s work. “I am honored to join the Board of Corporate Angel Network and support its extraordinary mission,” said Garrett. “The ability to remove barriers to care—especially for patients facing serious illness—is both impactful and deeply meaningful. CAN’s work exemplifies how aviation can be used as a force for good, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth and reach.” Garrett will be joining other CAN Board members, including: Michael Amalfitano, Embraer Executive Jets; W.W. (Bill) Boisture, Jr., AE Industrial Partners; Derek DeCross, Signature Aviation; Scott Donnelly, Textron; Dan Drohan, Solairus; Elise Eberwein, formerly American Airlines; Jennifer Leach English, AIN Publications; Patrick Gallagher, NetJets Aviation; Matthew Greene, Safe Flight Instrument; Jeannine Haas, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation; Dawne Hickton, Cumberland Additive; David Hurley, ALOFT Aero Architects; Ève Laurier, Bombardier; Wilson Leach, Aviation International News; Jean Rosanvallon (Chairman), formerly Dassault Falcon Jet; and Dr. Bret Schipper, Hartford HealthCare.
Lucid Bots Raises $20 Million to Accelerate the Buildout of America’s Leading Exterior Cleaning Platform

Lucid Bots has announced it has raised an oversubscribed $20 million Series B round co-led by Cubit Capital and Idea Fund Partners, with participation from Taylor Rhodes, WaterStone Impact Fund, and Front Porch Ventures, in addition to existing investors. The raise brings total funding to $34 million and will be used to scale the company’s commercial operations, expand its domestic manufacturing capacity in Charlotte, and accelerate the rollout of its RaaS offering Lucid Refresh — the company’s full-service subscription platform for exterior cleaning operators. “We’re on an ambitious journey to give software a body to do physically productive work that the world needs and become the USA’s leading supplier of modular drones and robots,” said Andrew Ashur, Founder and CEO of Lucid Bots. “This capital allows us to meet the massive market demand we’re seeing today while expanding our product offerings and accelerating our manufacturing and autonomy goals. The next 18 months will be transformative for our product roadmap and the industry at large.” Watch Video Launch of Lucid Refresh Lucid Bots builds the robots, software, and support infrastructure that professional cleaning operators deploy on their jobs. Where a cleaning company traditionally needs to choose between turning down high-value exterior work or taking on the capital, training, and operational burden of robotics themselves, Lucid Refresh gives them a third option: access to a complete autonomous cleaning capability, including the Sherpa cleaning drone, the newly launched Lavo AI autonomous pressure washing robot, Lucid Command fleet management software, operator training, job intelligence, and an equipment loaner guarantee, as a single ongoing subscription. The operator brings the contract, and Lucid delivers everything needed to fulfill it. “Our customers are running cleaning businesses,” said Vic Pellicano, President and Chief Platform Officer of Lucid Bots. “They don’t need a robot — they need a way to take on jobs they couldn’t do before, execute them better than the competition, and do it without betting their company on a capital purchase. That’s what we built. It’s less like buying equipment and more like adding a robotics division to your business that you can deploy on any job, any time.” A Platform Built on Operator Success Lucid Bots’ operator network has generated more than $75 million in exterior cleaning revenue using Lucid systems — a figure that reflects the core thesis behind the company’s model: that Lucid wins when its operators win. The Sherpa drone platform reduces job completion time by 2–5x, and operators report payback periods of less than two months. With approaching 1,000 robots now in active operator hands, and 93% of new business originating from inbound interest, the company generated as much revenue in 2025 as it did in its first seven years combined. The company’s customer base spans independent operators to enterprise-scale accounts including Disney, Sunbelt Rentals, and commercial facilities managers across the country. The Data Advantage No Competitor Can Close The Series B accelerates Lucid’s two flagship product lines. The Sherpa drone continues to expand its autonomous capabilities, and Lucid Bots recently launched Lavo AI, a fully autonomous pressure washing robot designed for unattended operation, complete with its own mobile app and proprietary cloud data layer. What makes both platforms genuinely different is not the hardware. It is the data behind them. Lucid Bots’ systems have now logged hundreds of thousands of hours of real-world exterior cleaning across building types, surface materials, weather conditions, and job configurations that no competitor can replicate. That operational dataset trains the AI systems embedded in every Lucid robot and improves with every job completed. The result is cleaning performance that compounds over time: Lucid robots clean more precisely, adapt more intelligently to job conditions, and produce more consistent results than any service relying on human judgment or a thinner data foundation ever could. Every new deployment makes the system smarter. Every hour logged extends a lead that started years ago and widens by the day. Both platforms are manufactured at the company’s 25,000-square-foot facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, a domestic manufacturing footprint that provides compliance advantages under federal mandates for US-built robotic systems and positions Lucid to serve the growing number of commercial and government customers who require it. “At Cubit Capital, we invest in companies with courageous leadership confronting meaningful societal challenges, and Lucid Bots represents exactly that,” said Philip Carson, Partner at Cubit Capital. “The labor crisis in industrial work is real, and Lucid has achieved genuine innovation with technology that empowers workers and creates safer workplaces. Their traction speaks for itself, and we’re excited to support a team that’s striving for redemptive outcomes by empowering workers rather than replacing them.” “What excites us about Lucid Bots is that this isn’t a single-product company. It’s a platform defining a new category,” said Lister Delgado, Managing Partner at Idea Fund Partners. “By building AI systems trained on more real-world cleaning data than anyone else in the industry, they’re creating a compounding advantage that will be difficult to replicate. When you pair that with US-based manufacturing and strong unit economics, Lucid is poised to become a defining leader in the next generation of industrial automation.” “The Lucid Sherpa drone has elevated our business to new heights opening doors and differentiating ourselves from the competition,” said Ryan Godwin, Owner of Godwin Facility Services. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without adding the Lucid Sherpa to our business.” Lucid Bots is a member of the NVIDIA Inception Program and is actively developing its AI and autonomy capabilities in partnership with NVIDIA.

International News

Aviation MRO Under Siege: How the Industry Is Defending Against Rising Cyber Threats

Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important issue for both individuals and businesses. It is estimated that, on average, global organizations face nearly two thousand cyberattacks each week. Last year, the costs to businesses totaled $10.5 trillion, and this figure is projected to reach $15.63 trillion by 2029. Cyberattacks impact nearly every industry, including aviation. According to Thales’ report, the number of such threats increased by 600% between 2024 and 2025. With ransomware attackers targeting aircraft MRO as a primary focus, companies are stepping up and investing heavily in their cybersecurity tools. Attempts to investigate and control the IT infrastructure of aircraft MRO companies are on the rise. Unsurprisingly, the global aviation cybersecurity market grew to $11.3B in 2025 and is projected to reach $29.4B by 2034, with an annual growth rate of 11.2%. Aviation maintenance organizations are especially appealing to malicious actors due to the high level of operational decision-making and process complexity. By breaking into their security systems, attackers threaten to stop critical processes and disrupt the entire operations chain. The frequency of such attacks is further driven by AI-based social engineering, as reported AI-enabled cyber attacks increased by 47% worldwide in 2025. Lina Vaskelė “In aviation MRO, all systems are deeply interconnected. Various maintenance records, airworthiness data, supply chains, and operational schedules all influence each other. A single cyberattack doesn’t just target a single isolated point; it can spread throughout the entire infrastructure. If one part of the system fails, the risk quickly spreads to related processes and can cause consequences far beyond the initial target of the attack,” says Lina Vaskelė, Chief Risk and Security Officer at FL Technics, a global independent aircraft MRO service provider. The road to unified cybersecurity policy The international aircraft MRO community is working to establish consistent minimum standards across the industry. This is a crucial step for an industry that has historically had wide variation in cybersecurity maturity and has never implemented a unified cybersecurity policy. In 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking outlining required cybersecurity measures for aircraft, engines, and propellers. Similar initiatives are being undertaken in Europe as well. In February, the EASA directive Part-IS took effect, requiring organizations not only to have documented policies but also to demonstrate their effective implementation and readiness for oversight. There are also international efforts. The governing body of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has recently updated its Cybersecurity Action Plan, which urges member states to incorporate cyber risk management into their safety oversight frameworks. “Such a unified regulatory step was unavoidable. As digitalization progresses, the impact of IT systems on aviation MRO safety is becoming too significant to be viewed solely as a technological concern. The industry has had to recognize that the line between the digital and physical realms, between software vulnerabilities and flight safety risks, has effectively vanished,” says Ms. Vaskelė She notes that the most common cyber risks come from gaps in identity management systems, insecure external digital tools, and the human factor. In recent years, FL Technics has invested in various security measures, focusing mainly on strengthening protections, deploying advanced detection and monitoring systems, and enhancing access control and incident management. The main aim is to create multi-layered protection where human vigilance and technological controls work together as an integrated, complementary system. “Employee training is undoubtedly the most important aspect. You can have the most advanced security tools, multi-layered protection, and state-of-the-art detection systems, but the truth is that the final decision always rests with a human. That is why personal awareness remains the very first and most crucial line of cyber defense,” says Ms. Vaskelė.
Lufthansa Celebrates 100 Years Since its First Flights in Berlin

It was a special date for Lufthansa and a special day for all the employees who have shaped the airline with the crane logo: Exactly 100 years ago on April 6, 1926 – Lufthansa (at that time: “Luft Hansa”) took to the skies on its first flights. On that day, two aircraft took off from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport bound for Zurich and Cologne. Exactly a century later, this special date was fittingly celebrated as a chronological highlight of the anniversary year on Easter Monday – including two special flights that retraced the historic routes of the inaugural flights. A Boeing 787-9 and an Airbus A350-900, both in blue anniversary livery featuring a white XXL crane, had taken off from Frankfurt and Munich that morning. On board: hundreds of Lufthansa employees with their partners, who, as lucky winners of an internal raffle, had been invited by the company to join the anniversary flights and be there in person in Berlin on this special day. A total of more than 600 guests, including passengers on the fully booked special flights as well as invited guests from the political and aviation sectors, celebrated the highlight of the anniversary year at a festive event in Berlin. Among them was Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner. A special highlight: The Boeing 787-9 in anniversary livery was officially named “Berlin” during the ceremony. Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, emphasized in his speech: “Today, Lufthansa is celebrating its birthday! Driven by a pioneering spirit and passion, it all began here in Berlin. Exactly 100 years ago, the first flights of the original Lufthansa took off from here. Today, Berlin is one of our company’s largest locations. Around 2,000 Lufthansa employees live and work in the capital region. Lufthansa and the Group’s airlines will remain strong partners in Berlin in the future.” Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, emphasized in his welcoming remarks: “100 years of Lufthansa is an impressive anniversary. On April 6, 1926, two flights departed from Berlin to Zurich and Cologne, thereby establishing Lufthansa’s long-standing connection with Berlin. To this day, Lufthansa remains an outstanding partner for Berlin – and I am delighted that, on the occasion of this special anniversary, we are naming the Boeing 787-9 ‘Berlin.’” Routes of the inaugural flights re-enacted Around 3:15 p.m., the Boeing 787-9, which had previously been named “Berlin,” and the Airbus A350-900 with the registration D-AIXL then departed the capital for Zurich and Cologne. On their journey, the special flights flew over the locations where stopovers were made on April 6, 1926. The Boeing 787-9 flew from Berlin via Halle, Erfurt, and Stuttgart to Zurich, while the A350-900 flew via Magdeburg to Cologne. The flight numbers of the two flights, LH1926 and LH2026, also commemorated the special anniversary. Lufthansa will celebrate its 100th founding anniversary in 2026. Berlin plays a special role in the airline’s history: the first Lufthansa was founded here on January 6, 1926. Today, the Lufthansa Group is one of the four largest airlines worldwide and the largest airline group in Europe. In Berlin, the company is the clear market leader. Around 30 percent of all flights in the capital are operated by airlines within the group. The ceremonial highlight of Lufthansa’s anniversary year will take place on April 15 with a ceremony in Frankfurt. On this day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also expected to attend at Lufthansa Group Hangar One, the new conference and visitor center at Frankfurt Airport.

Unmanned Systems

DSLR Pros Joins GeoCue Distribution Network

GeoCue has welcomed DSLR Pros to its growing distribution network, expanding nationwide access to TrueView 3D Imaging Sensors and LP360 point cloud processing software for geospatial professionals across the United States. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, DSLR Pros has spent more than a decade pioneering commercial drone technology and tailored solutions for customers in geospatial, READ MORE
Lucid Bots Raises $20 Million to Accelerate the Buildout of America’s Leading Exterior Cleaning Platform

Lucid Bots has announced it has raised an oversubscribed $20 million Series B round co-led by Cubit Capital and Idea Fund Partners, with participation from Taylor Rhodes, WaterStone Impact Fund, and Front Porch Ventures, in addition to existing investors. The raise brings total funding to $34 million and will be used to scale the company’s READ MORE

Aviation Education

The Lone Star Flight Museum to Host Houston Fleet Week Static Aircraft Display

The Lone Star Flight Museum is celebrating Fleet Week Houston by hosting the Fleet Week Navy Aircraft Display and offering free admission all weekend with generous support from ExxonMobil. The event will be held April 18 and 19, at Ellington Airport in Houston, Texas. For the first time in Fleet Week history, Lone Star Flight READ MORE
CAP’s New Jersey Wing Assists U.S. Air Force with Critical Blood Processing Mission

Members of Civil Air Patrol’s New Jersey Wing recently mobilized to assist the U.S. Air Force in processing blood products destined for deployed service members. This effort expands the reach of Operation Pulse Lift, CAP’s ongoing humanitarian blood collection mission, and supports the need for blood for U.S. forces overseas. Civil Air Patrol’s Maj Megan READ MORE

NATCA Achieves Never Before Organizing Goal: Large Regional Facility – Washington Center – Reaches 100 Percent Union Membership Status

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 Kim Stevens

In what is being called, an astounding achievement for labor union organizing and solidarity, the local chapter of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) at Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC; ZDC) has become a 100 percent NATCA facility, meaning all 379 NATCA-represented air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals who work […]

Piper Appoints Former NASA Astronaut, Winston Scott to the Board of Directors

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 Kim Stevens

Piper Aircraft has announced that is has appointed former NASA Astronaut and Aeronautical Engineer, Captain Winston Scott to its Board of Directors effective October 10, 2019. “We are pleased to welcome Captain Scott to the Piper board and especially value his aviation experience and expertise”, said Simon Caldecott, President and CEO of Piper Aircraft, Inc. […]

AOPA Air Safety Institute Releases 28th Joseph T. Nall Report

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 Kim Stevens

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released the 28th Joseph T. Nall Report for 2016 which reports that general aviation (GA) fatal accidents continued the previous year’s decline even as hours flown marked three years of steady growth. The 1,214 total accidents for the year rose from the previous […]

State Grants Awarded to Eleven West Virginia Airports

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 Kim Stevens

Photo above – Governor Jim Justice (right), looks on as West Virginia Aeronautics Director Sean Hill addresses attendees. Airports in West Virginia recently received a funding boost. Gov. Jim Justice, Secretary of Transportation Byrd White and Aeronautics Commission Director Sean Hill flew across the state on Monday to announce thousands of dollars in aeronautics grant […]

Virginia Governor Announces Nearly $1.5 Million Award to Support Autonomous Systems

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 Kim Stevens

Governor Ralph Northam has announced that nearly $1.5 million in grant funding has been awarded from the Virginia Research Investment Fund in its second funding round. The three-year grant will support the launch of the Commonwealth Center of Innovation for Autonomous Systems (C2IAS), a collaborative research center led by Virginia Tech with Old Dominion University […]

Mesa Air Group Announces New Senior Vice President of Flight Operations

October 14, 2019October 14, 2019 Kim Stevens

Mesa Air Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MESA) has named Brad Holt as its new Senior Vice President of Flight Operations. Holt brings over 30 years of industry experience and will oversee the company’s flight operations, including pilot training, and report directly to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Brad Rich. “Brad brings decades of experience […]

Silver Air Opens New Private Jet Charter Office in Manhattan

October 14, 2019October 14, 2019 Kim Stevens

Silver Air has opened a corporate office in New York City to better serve clients on the East Coast. The Manhattan office expands Silver Air’s corporate footprint from Los Angeles to New York. Silver Air operates charter fleets out of bases across the U.S. including major charter hubs like Van Nuys, the Bay Area, Dallas, […]

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces FAA Certification of UPS Flight Forward as an Air Carrier

October 14, 2019October 14, 2019 Kim Stevens

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded air carrier and operator certification to an unmanned aircraft system (UAS, or drone) delivery company, UPS Flight Forward. “This is a big step forward in safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems into our airspace, expanding access to healthcare in North […]

AOPA Announces Mexico Will Accept BasicMed Pilots

October 14, 2019October 14, 2019 Kim Stevens

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has announced that pilots flying under BasicMed will be able to travel to Mexico in their aircraft starting December 10, 2019, under a policy letter signed by Mexico’s Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics on October 11, 2019. In recognizing BasicMed, Mexico joins The Bahamas as a BasicMed-friendly destination. The […]

New Ratings and Reviews Feature Added to AOPA’s Airport Directory

October 14, 2019October 14, 2019 Kim Stevens

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has released its updated ratings and reviews feature of AOPA’s Airport Directory Online. From the airport itself to FBOs, restaurants, flight schools, and maintenance shops, pilots are encouraged to give their feedback on all aspects of an airport’s amenities and to check the experience other pilots had at […]

Lufthansa Celebrates 100 Years Since its First Flights in Berlin

Lucid Bots Raises $20 Million to Accelerate the Buildout of America’s Leading Exterior Cleaning Platform

SAS Marks 80 Years with Anniversary Aircraft

Textron Aviation Names Five 2026 Top Hawk Recipients as Program Enters Its Second Decade of Workforce Impact